Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and right hip disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, TBI, thoracolumbar spine disability, gastrointestinal disorder, CTS, and OSA. The Veteran's claims were not adjudicated on the basis of service connection.

The Board has remanded the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service records. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria, but his left ear hearing loss disability is considered unlikely to have been present at separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and the Board also finds that his lumbar spine disability may be related to in-service injury. The hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis and lower back condition due to inadequate VA examination opinions. Additional examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder (degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease) and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, both linked to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 18, 2020.

The Board has determined that additional information is required before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and headache disorder claims are remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine conditions were rated at 10 percent each, but the Board denied any higher ratings due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,For his left knee condition, the Veteran was not granted a rating in excess of 10 percent from December 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU from October 10, 2007 to October 21, 2009 due to insufficient opinions regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by service-connected fibromyalgia and back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is sufficient to qualify for a TDIU, but the current rating does not meet the criteria. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's facial and neck folliculitis began during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for DDD of the cervical spine, and for an initial-higher ratings for the service-connected left knee. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including new VA examinations to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right inguinal hernia repair scar. The effective dates for service connection are denied.

The appeal of the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent disability rating for muscle strain with low back pain and segmentation error (back disability) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to May 20, 2015 and at least 10 percent thereafter. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. Service connection for the low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been found compensable prior to May 20, 2015 and at least 10 percent thereafter. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. Service connection for the low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical examination and an incomplete review of the claim. The Veteran's back disability needs to be evaluated for the period between March 7, 2011, and April 18, 2017.

The Veteran's right knee condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's right hip condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mood disorder is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and left knee strain.